Measurement of Polymer Stabilization Strength in Polymer-Stabilized Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals.

We have analyzed the effect of polymer stabilization on the helical structure of FLCs, such as polymer stabilization strength and molecular-alignment-structural deformation, by the conoscopic figures of polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (PSFLCs) observed from computer simulation and experiment. In this study, we research the conoscopic figures and the polymer stabilization strength of PSFLCs fabricated using a new FLC material and several types of monomer. In the case using a photocurable monoacrylate LC-1, the elastic constant of PSFLC is as large as that of pure FLC. On the other hand, in the case of diacrylate 2A363, the elastic constant is one hundred times larger. Therefore, the polymer stabilization strength and the characteristics of PSFLC may be widely controlled by mixing several types of monomer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]